Pelé, known as one of the greatest soccer players of all time, has passed away at 82 after a year-long cancer battle.
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The Brazilian legend was surrounded by loved ones at a hospital in São Paulo before his death. According to TMZ, Pelé was diagnosed with cancer in 2021 and spent months in and out of medical facilities for treatment. Two months before his death, his condition worsened and he was confined to a hospital bed.
A inspiração e o amor marcaram a jornada de Rei Pelé, que faleceu no dia de hoje.
Amor, amor e amor, para sempre.
.
Inspiration and love marked the journey of King Pelé, who peacefully passed away today.Love, love and love, forever. pic.twitter.com/CP9syIdL3i
— Pelé (@Pele) December 29, 2022
In a final Instagram post, the soccer legend congratulated Argentina and Lionel Messi for winning the 2022 World Cup. Pelé joined Brazil’s national soccer team when he was 16 and won his first World Cup at 17 in 1958, and continued to win two more titles in 1962 and 1970.
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Fans expressed their condolences and heartfelt memories about Pelé
After learning about his death, soccer fans and friends expressed their about memorable moments about the legend . One fan wrote, “Our eternal gratitude and love, King. Thank you for dedicating your life to football. Your legacy and memory will be eternal. Rest in peace, Pelé.” Another said, “Pele shaped the game and the players as we know it today. He wrote this song before anyone else. RIP King, the world will remember you for as long as this game exists.”
Growing up, I knew literally NOTHING about soccer except one name:
Pelé.
I was American, midwestern, and more into the arts than athletics. And yet, the more I learned about his story and triumphs, the more I understood why, indisputably, Pelé is a deservedly global icon. https://t.co/wMNftKLg20
— brittany packnett cunningham. (@MsPackyetti) December 29, 2022
Pelé’s message to Maradona after the Argentine passed away in 2020.
RIP legends 🙏 pic.twitter.com/GzJf6v2tnQ
— ESPN FC (@ESPNFC) December 29, 2022
“Pelé is one of the few who contradicted my theory: instead of fifteen minutes of fame, he will have fifteen centuries.”
— Andy Warhol pic.twitter.com/huc5ZZvOey
— Khaled Beydoun (@KhaledBeydoun) December 29, 2022
Pele, the legendary footballer, died today in his native Brazil. In October 1983, Peter Duncan and Simon Groom could barely believe he was joining them in the Blue Peter studio, while handing out one or two technical tips. pic.twitter.com/Unt7LTLOos
— BBC Archive (@BBCArchive) December 29, 2022